Elvira Annie Cowles

ELVIRA ANNIE COWLES
The Life of Elvira Annie Cowles
Utah Pioneer of 1847

The young prophet Nephi prefaced his record with the declaration, “I was born of goodly parents.” David successfully overcame the giant, Goliath, and the people asked in astonishment, “Whose son is he?’ indicating that a worthy parentage is necessary or important.

In the spirit of these great men as I write a story of my grandmother, I will tell something of her progenitors, that we may better know her and appreciate the things she did. For this information I am indebted to the printed record, “The Cowles Family in America”, owned by the Genealogical Society of Utah in Salt Lake City, and our own family record and tradition.

A brief study reveals that as early as 1633-1635 John Cowles came to America from England, probably Gloucester, England because the Cowles’ name was very much more numerous there than at any other place in England at that time.

We hear of John Cowles first at Hartford, Connecticut. The general character and standing of the early founders of Hartford may be learned by considering the religious, social and official positions of the landholders who first settled there. In a list of thirty-seven of these first landowners or first colonists, five became colonial governors, one colonial secretary, one colonial treasurer, a number were commissioners, deputies, constables and deacons and men of substance. John Cowles’ name appears upon this list; and his descendants, ever since that time, have been prominently identified with the leaders of the towns where they lived.
He helped colonize Farmington, Connecticut in Hartford County, and was constable there in 1647-1654; a deputy for the town to general Court six sessions, 1653-1654; and, one of the seven pillars of the Congregational Church organized the 13th of October, 1652. He held many other positions in both church and civil capacity.

This was a devoutly religious family, and willing to make sacrifice for their convictions. They held strongly to the great hope that their house might always be a house of prayer. All of the children of John and Hannah Cowles married into some of the most prominent families in New England. Unfortunately the maiden name of his wife, Hannah, is not known. To them were born two sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to maturity.
Of the two sons, Samuel and John, Samuel, the elder, became the fifth great grandfather of Elvira Annie Cowles, the subject of this sketch. Samuel Cowles was born probably at Hartford, Connecticut in 1639 and died the 17th of April, 1691 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. On the 22nd of June, 1665, John Cowles (first) received an allotment of land at Hadley or Hartwell, Massachusetts. A part of that property remained in the hands or title of some of the male line of the John Cowles family until 1898 when it was sold, after some 235 years of continuous family ownership.

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Biography of Elvira Annie Cowles by Eliza Roxie Welling Taylor, typescript, N, Grammar has been standardized.

Samuel Cowles, mentioned above, was married on the 14th day of June, 1660 to Miss Abigail Stanley, a daughter of Timothy Stanley, kinsman of [page 2] Thomas Stanley, first Earl of Derby. Everything recorded indicates that Timothy Stanley was a man of energy and enterprise, dignity and substance and piety, worthy of the sincere respect of his numerous descendants. He was one of the wealthiest men of Hartford according to the family history. His brother, Thomas Stanley, was ancestor to Grover Cleveland, President of the United States. Samuel Cowles was a large landowner, a man of high ideals and energy and a leading citizen. Eleven children were born
to Samuel and Abigail Stanley Cowles. Their son, Nathaniel Cowles, married Phebe Woodruff on the 11th of February, 1672-1673. Their nine children included Timothy Cowles born the 20th of August, 1704, who married Content Johnson on June 29, 1730.

This couple, in contrast to the large families preceding them, had only two children, Margaret, who died in infancy, and Asa Cowles, born the 7th of March, 1732. Asa and his first wife, Sarah, had only one child, Timothy, born the 16th of May, 1754.

Timothy Cowles married Abigail Woodworth on May 25, 1775. He migrated to Brookfield, Vermont, previous to the organization of that town in 1785, and was chosen clerk of the first town meeting. He was appointed justice of the peace in and for Orange County, Vermont, in 1785, and was elected representative from Brookfield to the legislature in 1787. It is probable that he moved to New York, as some of his children settled in that state.

In line with previous family tradition, Timothy and Abigail Woodworth Cowles had eleven children; one girl died in infancy, one daughter grew to maturity, seven sons became ministers of the gospel, and two sons who did not follow that profession. Ninth and next to the youngest son in this large family was Austin Cowles, the father of Elvira Annie Cowles, our pioneer, the subject of this sketch.

Austin Cowles was born May 3, 1792 at Brookfield, Vermont, at a time when the country was new, free schools were almost unknown, and it was difficult to earn a living. An education was almost out of the question. His great energy and determined spirit helped him overcome difficulties which were greater because of having lost the sight of one eye very early in life. This was caused by an arrow accidently shot by one of his brothers.

Austin became a teacher and a minister of the gospel at the age of about twenty-one years. He taught the first winter term in a new school building in 1820-1821 at Boliva, New York. He became a regularly ordained Methodist Episcopal Minister and conducted the first religious service in Bolia, New York, meeting in a barn for lack of a church building. He was inspector of common schools and town clerk in 1825. He was also a wheelwright and small farmer.

Austin Cowles married Phebe Wilbur the 14th of January, 1812 a young lady from a large and prominent family who possessed many excellent personal qualifications. We have briefly and hurriedly spoken of the generations of the Cowles families from John Cowles, the immigrant, through a direct descent to Elvira, namely, John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Timothy, Ma, Timothy, Austin, and Elvira. We have found that they were substantial home owners, religious and sincere, and prominent in their church affiliations. They were honest and respected citizens and held positions of trust and prominence in civil affairs. Many of them were teachers, and the titles, Lieutenant, is not uncommon showing that they made contributions in military activities as well.

Austin and Phebe Wilbur Cowles were the parents of three daughters who grew to womanhood, married and raised families. They were unfortunate in losing two sons in infancy.

Elvira Annie was born November 23, 1813, at Unadella, Otsego county, New York. Louisa W. was born the 19th of March, 1817, and Mary Ann, the youngest, married Rosel Hyde. This Hyde family lived on their farm home just south of Kaysville, Davis County, Utah, and were prominent in the affairs of their community. It was Mary Ann Cowles Hyde’s family and home that took the place of “Grandmother’s House” at Thanksgiving and Christmas times in the lives of Elvira Annie’s grandchildren. Our own grandmother lived in Farmington, Davis County, just south of Kaysville, but died many years earlier than did her younger sister, Mary Ann. We still remember the proud old gobbler strutting his feathers in the farm yard and also the other gobbler presented in grand style on the long dining table, having been roasted to a perfect brown, and accompanied by all the delicious things that make up an old-fashioned Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Also the row of polished red apples on the mantel above the hospitable fire place. Aunt Mary Ann and her family will long be remembered and loved for these pleasant occasions.

Elvira Annie was about thirteen years old when her mother died, in 1826, leaving her three daughters. After one year her father, Austin Cowles, married Irena Hix Elliott, a very estimable lady who was a devoted wife and companion to him. She taught their children that it is better to suffer wrong than to do a wrong. Of their six children the youngest daughter, Martha Marie Cowles, records that she “looks back to the happy days spent with these noble parents and thanks her Creator for their noble precepts and example.’ She has furnished much of the Cowles family history.

Soon after the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, April 6, 1830, Austin Cowles and his family heard of it, investigated its teachings and devoutly believed them. They emigrated to Kirtland and later to Nauvoo, the headquarters of the Church. ‘After being baptized a member of the Church, he was advanced in the Priesthood and became a Seventy and a councilor to the president, (to the president of the Seventy’s quorum, most likely). He always held to the first principles of the gospel and lived them sincerely, but
never was converted to the principle of plurality of wives. He opposed this law and preached against it in the quorum and in public, and on that account he withdrew from the Church. This sad turn in his life was most unfortunate. He moved about from place to place but never found complete contentment although he kept his family around him.

His daughter records her own feelings toward him in this manner, “After spending a long life in making the world better, an example to all who knew him, with charity for all and malice toward none, his tall form was laid to rest in the old homestead (probably at Pleasanton, Decauter County, Illinois). His wife, lrena, laid by his side. Two simple slabs mark their resting place. These lines are cut in the slab at his head: “He chose virtue as his sweetest guide; lived as a Christian and as a Christian died.”

Elvira Annie Cowles, having always lived in the environment of a teaching, preaching family and home, also became a teacher early in her life. She was spiritually prepared to accept the Gospel in its fullness as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associates. She was baptized a member of the church on the 19th of October, 1835, when she was twenty-two years of age. The first outstanding record of her activity in the church was when the Woman’s Relief Society was organized on the 17th of March, 1842.

The Prophet, John Taylor and Willard Richards were in attendance, also eighteen women and one child. The Prophet made this statement to the women who were assembled: ‘I now turn the key to you in the Name of God. Knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time. This is the beginning of better days for you.” The women present at that meeting became the charter members of the great Relief Society which has been in continuous organization since that day. The officers chosen that day were Emma Smith, The Prophet’s wife, first General President, Eliza Roxey Snow, first general secretary, Elvira Annie Cowles, first general Treasurer. The members were Mrs. Sarah Cleveland, Phebe Ann Hawks, Elizabeth Jones, Sophia Packard, Phillinda Merrick, Phoebe M. Wheeler, Margaret A. Cook, Sarah M. Kimball, Sophia Robinson, Leanora C. Taylor, and Sophia R. Marks.

As first general Treasurer, Elvira’s duties became definite from the first. Joseph Smith contributed five ($5.00) dollars. John Taylor and Willard Richards each gave two and one half ($2.50) dollars. Thus was begun the first organization of the Relief Society, and the Prophet’s blessings and promise have been richly realized through the century.

Elvira accepted all of the principles of the Gospel, including the principle of Polygamy, and she became the wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith and was sealed to him for time and eternity. Her experiences were very sacred and wonderful. After his martyrdom on June 4, 1844, she suffered with his family and with the church his great loss. She then married Jonathan Harriman Holmes on the 1st of December, 1844, a true and trusted friend and bodyguard of the Prophet. (This marriage date is found in the printed record of the Cowles families in America BE16, owned by the Genealogical Society of Utah.) Mr. Holmes had previously lost his first wife, Marietta Carter, in death. Their little girl, Sarah Elizabeth Holmes, was tenderly raised by his wife, Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes. An item of record showing that she was held in high regard by the Prophet Joseph and his friends, I quote: “Gustin Brooks in writing a personal letter to the Prophet at Kjrtland, Ohio, the 7th of November, 1842, asked to be especially remembered to Sister Elvira Cowles.”

In the great exodus from Nauvoo in 1846 the Holmes family joined and endured the hardships and privations the saints were compelled to endure at that time. Like others, they gathered up their moveable possessions. These they packed into a cart drawn by a team consisting of an ox and a cow. Thus they arrived at Council Bluffs in the middle of July, 1846. On the 16th day of that month, Johathan Harriman Holmes answered the call to enlist in the Mormon Battalion. The United States was at war with Mexico.

Although the government had refused all aid to the people of the church in the previous drivings and mobbings, even in the murder of the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the president now called for five hundred able bodied men. Brigham Young answered the call, upholding the statement that as a people “we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates; in honoring, obeying and sustaining the law.” Jonathan Harriman Holmes left his wife and little girl with the other exiled saints while he served his country in the Mormon Battalion.

These saints spent the winter of 1846-1847 on the west bank of the bleak Missouri River where they endured unbelievable hardships. Elvira’s little log room had no windows nor doors except with blankets hung to break the cold and storms. In the following spring the journey was resumed and she drove her own ox-cow team across the plains. She was a member of the Jedediah M. Grant Company, the first group to follow President Brigham Young’s company which had started a few months earlier.

They camped on the banks of the Elk Horn River the 17th of June, 1847, and decided to call their company ‘The First Three Hundred.’ They arrived at the Plan River, June 19, 1847, and in Salt Lake Valley October 2, 1847. This journey had taken one hundred and seven days. Other women in this company included Eliza Roxey Snow and some of the family of Brigham Young. In this pilgrimage of pioneers Elvira had walked almost all the way driving her own team, while little Sarah Elizabeth, then about nine years old, toddled at her side or rode in the loaded cart or wagon - too young to realize the seriousness of the situation or to join her “mother” in the great hope of a refuge where they might build a home, live in peace and worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.

In the journey across the plains one day her cow lost one of her shoes. Elvira reported the loss to the captain of the company who advised her to go back a distance of about ten miles to a company who had stayed behind to recruit. There she might find a blacksmith whom she might persuade to come on and fit the shoe to her cow’s foot. We must recall here that five hundred picked men had gone to the Battalion, and women were obliged to do hard and dangerous things for themselves. Elvira walked that long distance alone with faith that the Lord would protect her. The blacksmith did return with her and fitted the shoe. This done she gratefully resumed the trip with the company. We wonder about her own dear feet having to make such a long extra trip in that long, long trek over rough unbroken roads. He husband was a shoemaker by trade and we hope her shoes were sturdy and comfortable.

At another time they met a herd of buffalo and she was quite miraculously preserved from them. As they rushed along, she drew little Sarah close to her, spoke firmly and assuring to her team, and waved her hand to the wild beasts who passed by, thus answering her fervent prayer.
Upon arriving in Salt Lake Valley the 2nd of October 1847, she lived in the “Old Fort”, now Pioneer Park in the west part of Salt Lake City. She taught one of the first schools there, taking thistle roots and sego bulbs and wolf meat as her pay. They had a scant supple of bran for bread. These scanty supplies she often shared with others who were less fortunate than herself.

The Mormon Battalion arrived on the West Coast January 1, 1847, after leaving Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in July 1846. Jonathan Harriman Holmes served until his term of enlistment expired in the following July, 1847. After being discharged, he immediately started east, taking with him a mule and sidearms generously furnished by the United States Government to honorably [page 6] discharged men. For this year of service he had received $120.00 in advance. The cash so earned, no doubt, made the trip across the plains possible for his wife and child. He joined them in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1848.

The first child of Johathan H. and Elvira Annie C. Holmes, named Lucy Elvira, died the first of June, 1847 of exposure, at Winter Quarters before the long hard trip and separation began. Their second daughter, Marietta, was born at the Old Fort - Pioneer Park - Salt Lake City, 17th of July 1849 Soon after Marietta’s birth, the family moved to Farmington, Davis County, Utah. There they worked hard together to build their home, a small two-story rock building surrounded by a small farm. Here they made butter and cheese which they sold to provide other necessities. They also spun wool and flax of their own raising and wove the same into cloth from which their clothing, blankets and sheets were made. Jonathan H. was a farmer and a shoemaker.

In this humble but happy home three other girls were born, Josephine Octavia died in early childhood, Phoebe Louisa, born the 5th of February, 1851, and Emma Lucinda, born February 1st, 1856, grew to womanhood along with Sarah and Marietta. They had no sons but adopted and raised a boy, John Hendrics, who kept his own name. He married Emily Jarvis. This family made their home in Ogden. Utah, and became prominent in legal and educational work in that city. John Hendrics, Jr., is a practicing attorney, and Nellie, his sister, is a supervisor of primary education in Ogden schools at the time of this writing, 1944. Veda Hendrics is a business woman in Ogden.

The eldest daughter of Jonathan H. Holmes and his first wife, Marietta Carter, married Miles Weaver who had another wife also named Sarah. These two women were playfully called “White Sarah” and “Black Sarah.” Miles Weaver died, and as was a custom at that time, President Brigham Young advised his brother Franklin Weaver to marry the two widows and take care of them for his brother.

Franklin had promised his wife Rachel that he would not ask her to live the law of polygamy and so he answered Brigham Young that he must have time to consider the matter before answering him. Franklin did not mention the matter to his wife but prayed to know and be directed in his duty. He was called to go to Cache Valley to help settle that part of the country. The district was new and Rachel would be lonely. One day as she worked at making her preparations to go, her husband came into the room and found her in tears. Thinking, of course, that she was crying because she disliked to leave her home, he tried to console her, but it might be hard to guess her feelings when she said to him, “I will go to Cache Valley with you if you will marry those girls and take them too.”

Thus he was shown the only way to keep his promise to his dear wife, Rachel, and keep the council of his superiors and fill his mission of colonization. The plan worked successfully in the lives of these fine people.

Aunt Sarah Elizabeth Homes Weaver and her family lived in Millville, Cache County, Utah, and were useful citizens of their community. How we did love to visit them there: Aunt Sarah was a beautiful woman who always remembered many of her childish experiences in the Prophet’s home, and later as she joined her mother in that famous trek through canyons, over mountain and plain, with the pioneers of 1847; thus becoming herself a pioneer of 1847. She marched in the jubilee parade of the 50th anniversary of that occasion.

The three younger daughters of Jonathan and Elvira in their young womanhood went to school, helped in the home and on the farm. They herded sheep and helped shear them. They learned carding, spinning, weaving and sewing, and they were happy, devoted daughters. Phoebe and Emma became teachers.

Job Welling, a young English convert to the church and an immigrant to America, lived in Farmington. His young English wife, Frances E. Yeoman Welling, had died, leaving two children, Willard Key and Annie Meriah Welling. He was energetic, good looking, popular, a good speaker and singer, a tailor by trade, and needed a good wife.

Marietta readily recognized these fine qualities and her heart went out to him and his little children. Details are not available, but they were happily married the 12th of May, 1866. Phoebe and Emma thought Job was just right for Marietta but they had no interest in marriage at that time. They kept on at school whenever possible, and each became a teacher as their mother had been. Marietta was a natural teacher and manager, which was a very great asset to her in after life. She has sometimes been compared to Mary the Mother of Jesus, serene, even natured, efficient, and well poised. She was an excellent home keeper and in her quiet, efficient way was almost mother to all of us. Everyone who came under her care and discipline was better for the experience. She became the mother of eight children.

Job Welling and his wife Marietta Holmes were very devoted to her parents, Jonathan H. Holmes and Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes, and were thoroughly converted to the principles she lived. They counseled together understandingly and were united in purpose. Who, they thought, could be so desirable and worthy and easy to live with as her own sisters? When their oldest child, Franklin David, was one year old, Phoebe Louisa Holmes became more interested in matrimony.

Phoebe Louisa was a popular young teacher in the Farmington school which was headed by the genial Jacob Miller as principal. She taught in various other localities, including a term in Cache Valley where her older sister, Sarah E. Weaver, lived. Job Welling made sure that no other young man should win her if he could be lucky enough to do so himself. Accordingly, leaving out more intimate details, they were married in the old Endowment House on 21st December, 1868. They had driven his team from Farmington to Salt Lake City a long way at that time, and were married by Daniel H. Wells, returning to Farmington in time to attend a dancing party. As the surprising news leaked out they became the special guests, or at least claimed special attention and congratulations.
Phoebe Louisa was naturally a witty, playful, disposition and nature, which enhanced by her intelligent dignity, remained with her all her life, and helped to smooth out many rough places. She became the mother of eight children and lived for past eighty years showing a rugged physical nature.

Emma Lucinda Holmes, the youngest sister, was tall and slender with lovely eyes and hair. She was happy in her teaching and independent in her nature. She planned to go farther in her education, but they all needed her and wanted her to make that Welling Family complete.
Tradition has it that her sisters used loving persuasion to encourage her to accept the proposal of marriage to Job Welling. At that time this order of marriage was in accord with the church principle and practice, and Emma Lucinda gave up her ambition for teaching and turned her interest to matrimony.

They were attending a conference in Salt Lake when they heard the name of Job Welling with others read off. He was called to fill a mission to Great Britain. They were married before he left and these three sisters carried on. Perfect understanding, equality, confidence and love assured the success of that large family. In going to Great Britain, he left three wives and seven children, which was not uncommon in the church at that time. His letters addressed to, “My own dear M. P. E.,” Marietta, Phoebe, Emma, are suggestive of the unity he sought always to preserve among them.

Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes died at the age of fifty-eight years on the 10th of March 1871 at Farmington, Davis County, Utah. During her last sickness her husband Jonathan H. Holmes, in humility and sorrow at thought of her passing, asked her what reports she would give to the Prophet Joseph. She replied, “Only the very best report. You have always been a kind and devoted husband and father.” Her life was not a long one but we feel that she accomplished more for her worthy progenitors than anyone before her had done for she embraced the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and through its principles her ancestors have received the privileges of temple ordinances. This they could not do for themselves for lack of opportunity. She upheld their high ideals of religious leadership by becoming the first general Relief Society Treasurer, and by becoming the wife of the great Latter Day Prophet. All of her children including her foster daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Holmes Weaver, were true church workers.

Their grandchildren have performed many church missions in the United States, and three to Great Britain. Among the church callings these people have become Stake Presidents, bishops, high councilmen, bishops’ councilors, etc. Among her grandsons have been a Representative to the United States Congress from Utah, a Secretary of Registration, a Secretary of State, member of Juvenile Court, County Sheriff, County Clerk, and Deputy County Clerk, School Board President, Clerk and Member of Davis County school board. Many teachers in public school and high schools, also a Mission President, etc.

And now her great grand children and in-laws are carrying on a service in the army, navy and air services somewhere all over the world in World War II.
This incomplete story of her life and people has made us love her more because of knowing her better, and we appreciate the fine heritage she brought to us. We must try hard to be worthy of our Pioneer heritage.
This brief account establishes for us five Utah pioneers: Grandmother Elvira Annie Cowles (Smith) Holmes, Grandfather Jonathan Harrison Holmes of 1847-1848, and their son-in-law, my father, Job Welling, a pioneer of 1856, (also Sarah E. Holmes Weaver before mentioned) and his wife Frances Elizabeth.
To those who read this story, if there are mistakes please bring forth corrections. To those who do the typewriting, the finishing, please accept my sincere thanks.
{Signed) Eliza Roxie Welling Taylor